VANCOUVER –
Katalin Tolnai continued her superb run of form scoring two more goals including a free kick from distance in first half stoppage time to help propel the UBC Thunderbirds past the Alberta Pandas 2-0 on Friday night at Thunderbird Stadium.
Tolnai the reigning U SPORTS and Canada West Women's Soccer Player of the Week is in a zone and on a torrid pace having scored five goals in her last two outings, adding to the hat trick she recorded in last Thursday's 4-0 home opening victory over UVic.
"I'm feeling really good, it's been a great start to the season and let's keep the goals coming," said Tolnai after yet another explosive night. "On the free kick I was honestly just trying to hit the net as we were in the final minute of the first half and credit to my teammates as we're all working together to create chances."
With the victory the T-Birds remain undefeated on the young Canada West season, improving to 4-0, still yet to concede a goal against while outscoring their opponents 16-0. With the setback the Pandas fall to 1-2 on the campaign.
It was a very solid opening half of play and overall game from the Pandas perspective on the road, forcing an even battle for field position and keeping the prolific T-Birds relatively in check before giving up a free kick in the 45
th minute that quickly changed the script. Tolnai lined up from 28 yard out and sent a well struck ball that continued to climb and found the top left corner past the outstretched arms of a diving Autumn Wynn tending the Panda's goal. The surprise turn of events brought the home crowd to their feet for what was an important momentum changing 1-0 lead for the 'Birds heading into the break.
Despite the Pandas continuing to not give an inch and enjoying play on the front foot a costly turnover out of their own end in the 88
th minute allowed Tolnai to strike again collecting a pass to feet from
Ava Alexander, Tolnai turned with precision peeling off her defender and slotted a right footed shot inside the post from 12-yards out to seal the 2-0 victory.
"I think overall, defensively we stayed really compact and managed any threats and overloads when they tried to come at us," added UBC head coach
Jesse Symons. "Our quality shone through going forward, I think we created quite well in the first half but just not as deep as we wanted to be around their goal and then Katalin showed her quality tonight, she's totally in form right now with two great goals. We'll need to clean up our movement up front, I think we were offside at least eight or nine times tonight so we'll work off our movement and hopefully be prepared for tomorrow against MacEwan."
Alberta would muster the first good chance of the cagey affair in the 13
th minute as forward Mckayla Brault unleashed a well-struck line drive shot from about 25 yards out but T-Birds goalkeeper
Sarah Johns was in good position to coral it.
UBC responded in minute 21 with one of their better chances of the half off a corner kick that was flicked on by
Sophia Ferreira before trickling dangerously through the Pandas goal mouth however Alberta was able to collapse well and clear before the hosts could get a toe on it.
Four minutes later it was Tolnai who created an opening for herself cutting in from the left corner of the 18-yard box before driving a hard shot from 15 yards out but Wynn, who was effective all night in the Alberta goal was in good position to make the stop.
UBC nearly added to their lead minutes into the second-half as substitute
Jayda Thompson great individual effort included her collecting the ball on the left flank before cutting inside and slicing through the Pandas territory for a point-blank shot that just went wide.
In the 81
st minute the Pandas looked to capitalize on a free-kick of their own from the right sideline about 35 yards out. After the delivery the ball bounced around like a hot potato with no one able to coral it until Alberta forward Emily Duxbury settled it down and fired off a hard shot from 14 yards forcing Johns to make a diving stop in the UBC goal.
Both teams are back in action Saturday night as the T-Birds host the defending U SPORTS National Champion MacEwan Griffins for a 5:00 p.m. kickoff at Thunderbird Stadium while the Pandas head across the water for a meeting against the UVic Vikes and a 6:00 p.m. start.
